Health and safety


do not have bespoke specialist competencies in manual handling aids and equipment within their environment. The results demonstrated out of 502


practitioners (Fig 3), the vast majority of respondents (81.87%) use specific manual handling equipment in theatres. When looking at specific manual handling equipment, 164 use a Hovermat/Air Pal System (50.9%), 196 use a Pat Slide/Patient Board (60.9%), 178 use a slide/ Glide Sheet (55.3%), and 24 use a Banana Board/ Roller Board/Transfer Board (7.5%) – highlighting the need for bespoke specialist competencies, as shown in Fig 2, with only (47%) having had specific specialist competency manual handling training. The majority of moving and handling techniques used within the theatre environment, as demonstrated in Fig 4, was the Lithotomy Position (84.12%) and Epidural Positioning (68.24%). Regarding training received on specific positioning identified in Fig 4, 119 out of 340 respondents reported having no training, 30 received basic mandatory training, 47 received on the job training and only 11 had bespoke training. Of 340 respondents, 165 had no training on Proning Patients using Proturn, Allen/Jackson or other devices, 22 had medical representative training, and five had generic manual handling training. When asked what Proning techniques were used, 73.82% used a Flip and Catch technique (Fig 5), with only 10% of respondents using Knee and Elbow technique. Interestingly when using Proturn or Allen/Jackson Table, 87.85% of those surveyed stated they had no patient safety incidents (Fig 6).


While discussing patient safety incidents which


occurred while using a Proturn or Allen/Jackson Table, respondents stated there was harm to patients relating to falls, pressure area damage, and inability to position patients resulting in abandoning surgery. Most concerning was that surgeons and anaesthetists were not being trained and assessed. When using the Proturn or Allen/Jackson Table, 50% of those surveyed stated they had to turn the patient manually (Fig 7) or manually move them onto the table without using a slide sheet. When asking respondents to expand on


having to intervene manually, 40 out of 52 identified issues with obese patients, positioning of patients, and putting the patient onto the table. When respondents were asked if a local risk assessment had been undertaken on any of the positioning techniques, only 50.31% said ‘yes’ (Fig 8), and 49.69% said ‘no’.


Findings of the survey The response from 502 healthcare profes- sionals completing the AfPP survey provided


24 www.clinicalservicesjournal.com I July 2023


90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%


Responses


Total respondents for this question; 340


None


Lithotomy


Epidural Positioning Fig 4. What moving and handling techniques do you use?


90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%


Proturn


Allen Jackson table


Fig 5. What proning techniques do you use?


90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0%


No Responses


Total respondents for this question; 107


Flip and catch


Knee and elbow


Responses


Total respondents for this question; 340


Retraction


Other (please specify)


Other (please specify)


Fig 6. When using Proturn or Allen/Jackson Table, have there been any patient safety incidents? Yes


The conclusion is that mandatory general manual handling training is insufficient for theatre practitioners, although seen as best practice.


the information we needed about moving and handling in the perioperative environment. l Over half of the perioperative practitioners (54.98 %) had a certified specialist theatre manual handling trainer conducting training within their operating theatres.


l Over 80% of respondents use specialised equipment.


l The vast majority of respondents (81.87%)


use specific manual handling equipment in theatres.


l Only 47% had specific specialist competencies in manual handling.


l The highest moving and handling technique is the Lithotomy Position (84.12%) and Epidural Positioning (68.24%).


l When using the Proturn or Allen/Jackson Table, 50% of staff have to manually move


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